BerryPick6 comments on How to calibrate your political beliefs - Less Wrong

2 Post author: Macaulay 12 May 2013 08:09PM

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Comment author: Qiaochu_Yuan 12 May 2013 08:29:24PM *  19 points [-]

I suggest the alternative strategy of not having political beliefs at all in the name of combating privileging the question. Once you're in a position to actually influence policy, then maybe it makes sense to have opinions about policy.

Comment author: BerryPick6 12 May 2013 08:34:42PM 0 points [-]

It does make for boring company in certain circumstances, though, and having well-thought out political positions is high-status, despite the mindkilling involved.

Although, I suppose, if you didn't live in a community that engaged in political opinion status games, this would be the way to go.

Comment author: Qiaochu_Yuan 12 May 2013 08:42:49PM 7 points [-]

If you only have political opinions for the status benefits, then why would you need to calibrate them?

Comment author: BerryPick6 12 May 2013 08:44:22PM 2 points [-]

Good point.

Comment author: Nominull 15 May 2013 01:02:24AM 1 point [-]

If you run in social circles where having well-calibrated beliefs is high-status, not gonna name any names.

Comment author: Qiaochu_Yuan 15 May 2013 06:09:10AM *  0 points [-]

But it's easier to have well-calibrated beliefs about things that aren't politics. Also more useful (e.g. if those things are how to run a startup properly, or how to exercise properly, or...). Most people aren't in a position to test most political beliefs.